Miner&#39;s lamp.



PATENTBD APR. 3, 1906.

E. D. HUDSON. MINEB.S LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APRA-1, 1905.

'UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE. l

DVIN D. HODSON, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN B. HINKLE, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS.

IVIINERS LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

T0 all wtmn it 7uur/y concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN D, HoDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Fulton and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miners Torches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to miners lamps, relating more particularly to lamps carried on the cap or hat, but applicable to all manner of torches, such as used in mines or machine-shops.

The object of the invention is to produce a new form of miners torch for burning parafiin-oil entered into the torch in its solid form.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a member for filling the torch and insertible therein to remain as part of the torch.

A further object is to provide a lamp-filling member that can be used separate from the torch to be described for filling torches of other makes using paraffin.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a filling member having a movable plunger or ejector therein for ejecting the paraflin therefrom into the torch.

A still further obj ect of the invention is the provision of a new structure in a lamp or torch of the nature described, all of which will be pointed out in the following specification and in the accompanying claims.

In the drawings herewith presented, Figure l is a side view of my improved torch. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof, showing a lling member in connection therewith and paraffin therein. Fig. 3 is a front view of a filling member of simple form. Fig. 4 is a view of a split tube for holding the wick of the torch. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 6 is a side view of a torchfilling member in part section, showing a plunger therein and paraiiin to be ejected therefrom.

The container or body of the torch is represented at A, being provided with the usual burner-tube B, which in the present .instance is made larger at its lower end than at its free extremity-that is to say, itis tapered from its place of attachment with the bodyA to the end, the purpose of which will appear presently. At O is the usual hook member for attaching the torch to the cap of the wearer. Within the burner-tube B is a removable wick-carrying tube D, whose outside diameter is greater at one end than at the other, tapering from its outer to its inner end, as shownin Figs. 2 and 4. The bore of the tube is of the same diameter throughout in order that the wick will be free to pass without binding. In consequence the gage of the tube at its upper or outer end is much thicker than at its lower or inner end, as clearly Vshown in both the figures last named. Said tube is split throughout its entire length, and substantially one-half thereof is perforated, as at E, said perforations being at the lower extremity. The proper amount of the ordinarywicking (indicated at F) is placed within the tube D of a sufficient length to reach the bottom of the body A and lie therein, and the tube is then inserted in the outer tube member B, being pushed to about the position shown. The result of this is that as the large end of the said tube D meets the contracted extremity of the tube B it must be reduced in diameter by closing the opening thereof, thereby binding the wick.

As stated hereinbefore, the torch is designed to burn oil caused by the melting of ordinary paraffin -wax, in its commercial form a solid. I now provide a lling member for my improved torch, which consists either of a plain cylinder G, Figs. 1 and 3, with a ring II for convenience in handling, or a like member having therein a device of simple form of ejector to be explained.

The first form, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a notch at its lower end of considerable size to permit it to pass down into the body A without interfering with the wick F, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. l. In use the member Gr is removed from the torch and forced down into a block of paraffin-wax after the manner of a melon-tester commonly used. This membernow on being withdrawn is found to have a plug of the wax therein, which is inserted into the body after the man- .ner indicated in Fig. 2, the Wax being forced entirely to the bottom of the said body or container, as shown. In starting the lamp when it is new and has not been used the bot- IOO Biches "tom of the body and the tube B is heated sufficiently to melt a small portion of the wax, which will naturally be drawn up through the wick F to be ignited in the usual manner. Then on turning the torch bottom side up the flame thereof will heat the portions mentioned to liberate more of the oil. This operation, however, only consumes a moment or two, and the device is ready for use. I have described the tube D as being heavier at its upper end, and the advantage of this is, first, to tightly close the extremity of the outer tube B to prevent leakage of oil, and, secondly, the heavy metal conducts the heat down to the lower end of the tube to assist in continually melting the wax. Said tube being perforated permits the oil to reach the wick at the sides, as well as being drawn up in the ordinary manner. Now by having the lower end of the outer tube large and the lower end of the tube D small a large space or recess is created for the oil being formed, so that there will be suflicient bulk at all times. The heat is conducted to the oil in this space, and the heated oil being in contact with the unmelted wax continually causes the desired reduction to a fluid state.

It will be noted that the reservoir member Gr may be used to fill the body A and then may be withdrawn and again filled and inserted as far as it will go, and thus left, thereby giving the torch a double charge to last twice as long as one filling. As the oil is used the user simply presses the said member down at long intervals or permits it to descend of its own volition. This form of the said member G may be used, as before stated, or I may employ the form mentioned hereinbefore, which is shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The body thereof J corresponds to G in the other figures and has a disk K therein operated after the manner of a piston by means of a rod L, having a ring M at its free end for convenience in handling. This form is of advantage by reason of the ability of the user to readily dis lodge or eject the plug of wax in filling the lamp or torch, and this form may, if desired, be employed to fill any lamp now in use which uses paraffin. Ordinarily a person is compelled to take a cutting implement and dig the wax from a large chunk to fill the container or even use the fingers; but this is a laborious task and unsatisfactory as well in that by placing the pieces within the torch it cannot be packed advantageously, there being large spaces between the pieces, and the torch must be filled oftener than it need be if properly filled by the manner explained herein, a solid plug of the wax entirely filling the containingebody.

I claiml. In a torch of the character described, a container, awick therefor, a tubular telescoping member adapted for entering the container and holding the oil to be burned, and

a sliding member within the said telescoping member for ej ecting the oil.

2. In a torch of the character described, a container for the oil, an inverted cupped member adapted for entering the container, a member adjustably carried in the cupped member for vertical movement and a rod member attached to said member for making such adjustment as described and for the purposes explained.

3. In a torch of the character described, the body for containing the material to be burned, the burner-tube secured thereto and larger at its end of attachment with the body than at its free extremity, a wick-carrying tube for insertion into the latter, the same being smaller at one end than the other but whose internal diameter is uniform throughout its length, a wick carried in said tube, the latter being split for the purposes indicated.

4. ln a torch of the character described, the body thereof for containing the material to be burned, the burner-tube secured thereto, the same being larger at its end of attachment to the body, a wick-carrying tube inserted therein and removable therefrom, the same being of larger diameter at its outer end than its inner end but having a bore for the Wick of uniform size, a wick for said tube, there being perforations in the inner end of the tube for passage of oil, said tube being split for the purposes described.

5. A miners lamp comprising the oil-container A, the burner-tube B of greater dialneter at its base than at its mouth, the wicktube D within the burner-tube, its upper end fitting the mouth of the latter, the lower end of said wick-tube being of smaller external diameter than its upper end but whose bore is the same diameter throughout, there being perforations in the said lower end, the solidoil container J adapted for entrance to the top of the container A and to be lowered therein as the oil is reduced and consumed.

6. A miners lamp comprising ytheoil-container A, the burner-tube B of greater diameter at its base than at its mouth, the wicktube D within the burner-tube, its upper end fitting the mouth of the latter, the lower end of said wick-tube being of smaller external diameter than its upper end but whose bore is the same diameter throughout, there being perforations in the said lower end, the solidoil container J adapted for entrance into the top of the container A and to be lowered therein as the oil is reduced and consumed, and the vertically-adjustable member Kwithin the said container J for the purposes de scribed.

7. A miners lamp comprising the oil-'container A, the burner-tube B of greater diameter at its base than at its mouth, the 'wicktube D within the burner-tube, its upper end fitting the mouth of the latter, the lower end of said Wick-tube being of smaller external IOO diameter than its upper end but Whose bore ing the said member K for the purposes deis the same diameter throughout, there being scribed. 1o perforations in the said 1owe`r end, the solid- In testimony whereof I aIiX my signature oil container J adapted for entrance into the in presence of two witnesses. top of the container A and to be lowered EDWIN D. I'IODSON. therein as the oil is reduced and consumed, Witnesses:

Y the vertically-adjustable member K with- J. B. ROMINE,

in said container J and the rod L for adjust- J. W. BARDSLEY. 

